Blountville man wanted after pointing shotgun at children

Police are attempting to locate a Blountville man accused of pulling a shotgun on children playing near his home, then striking an adult in the face with the weapon's barrel when confronted about the incident.

A warrant has charged Johnny Marlow, 57, of 427 Buncombe Road, with reckless endangerment and four counts of aggravated assault. Sullivan County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Leslie Earhart says attempts to locate Marlow have been unsuccessful since the incident occurred, shortly before 9 p.m. on July 16.

According to a police report and court records, authorities were called to the home of one of Marlow's neighbors. A male resident told police he was cooking on his grill when approached by his juvenile, crying son.

The boy allegedly told his dad, "the guy at the end of the driveway pulled a gun on us," prompting his father to run to where the incident occurred. According to the man's statements to police, he found Marlow pointing a shotgun at a juvenile, female neighbor.

The man told officers that he stepped between the two and told Marlow to stop, at which point the armed man, "started yelling and tried to get his dog to attack." Marlow is also alleged to have pointed the shotgun at the other man's wife prior to her calling 911.

As she contacted police her husband and Marlow continued to argue, with Marlow allegedly hitting the other man in the face with the barrel of his gun. Upon the arrival of officers Marlow had fled the area and could not be located.

A separate witness reportedly told investigators that she had spotted him walking up his driveway with a rifle case, "after an argument with several people." Police spoke with a woman present at Marlow's home, but she was reportedly "evasive" in providing information about the incident or Marlow's whereabouts.

Anyone who may know his current location is asked to contact the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office at (423) 279-7500.